Comments

It is most unfortunate that Tom would choose a font that the majority of the people who read his work won't have access to without buying it!

Posted by gary at February 22, 2006 5:19 PM

As is usually the case, when you use a special font, it's not easy for most folks to find it...especially for a Mac. It may look great for you...but on my Mac it just shows as Arial. :(

Posted by Joel Heffner at February 22, 2006 5:40 PM

I believe there is an option on PowerPoint that allows the user to embed the font into the file. (Check ppt Help for info). Makes for a larger file size, but may be worth considering.

Posted by Dan at February 22, 2006 5:44 PM

I, for one, have no problem with Tom deciding to do whatever he thinks is best regarding font. It's a privilege to read his material. Buying a font is not a big deal. You may suggest a source, if you're open to that.

Thanks,

Jerry

Posted by Jerry at February 22, 2006 5:47 PM

For those interested you can see the font at http://www.fonts.com/FindFonts/detail.htm?pid=203879. Personally, it doesn't look that good to me. However, it's not the way Tom's words "look" that counts. :)

Posted by Joel Heffner at February 22, 2006 7:21 PM

Here's a better link to see One Stroke Script
http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/mondosearchresults.htm?st=12&kid=one%20stroke%20script

Posted by Mike L at February 22, 2006 7:36 PM

The slides are greatly appreciated. Turning the slides into an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file would get around the font issue.

Posted by Nuje Sax at February 22, 2006 8:40 PM

Form over function, font V content.

Aside from some very general comments on the China 'miracle' (yes I am a China cynic), Toms slides are, as always, very useful indeed.

Posted by Chris H at February 22, 2006 9:31 PM

I'm so glad Tom has found my favorite font: Chiller!

Now if someone would be kind enough to test him for color blindness.

Posted by carbonboy at February 22, 2006 9:53 PM

Doubtless many will and some already have sent in suggestions on how to get the font or ways to ensure that the font does not matter (eg pdfs or embedding). The fact that people are doing these types of activities says a couple of things to me:
1. value of the content - people will do what ever they need to do to get at the content and see it how it was meant to be seen, such is the power of Tom Peters. It reminds me of when, in the movie Spiderman, Peter Parker says: “This is my gift, my curse. Who am I? I am Spider-man”. But balance this with Uncle Ben when he offers this sage advice: “With great power comes great responsibility”. My point here is that Tom has awesome power and simple things like selecting a font will create a chain reaction beyond our imaginations. Seriously, how many presentations will now be created using One Stoke Script, or worse, in the absence of the font, Comic San Serif.

2. communication - the original blog entry indicated that you needed the font to see the slides the way Tom intended - being a newcomer to the Tom Peters phenomenon I think that this is important. If Tom has selected a font, then there must be reason beyond just aesthetics (I have read a number of Tom’s presentations and aesthetics is not a word that springs to mind – but nevertheless, they are effective!!).

So, I will be downloading the font, but I would like to know more about the reason for this change. Also, I don’t usually comment, but a quick reading of the guidelines indicates to me that I may have broken the “succinct” rule.

Posted by Jason Schoolmeester at February 22, 2006 10:17 PM

I dream of the day when Tom's slides exemplify the passion he unequivocally states for good design.

Posted by Jeffrey at February 22, 2006 11:41 PM

Thank you all for the patience and input. We had discussed all these options, and we'll make some decision over the coming week or two--even if it's just to let things ride as they are. The font choice is because it's easier to see when the slides are being used for projection as Tom speaks, and that is the primary purpose of his slides. We want to give you the content, and as Joel says, on a Mac you can see that in Arial, so no content is lost (though the size of the font can then be a problem). We'd love it to be a free font or one that comes with PowerPoint out of the box, but we haven't found one that's as suitable.

Again, thanks for the good suggestions.

Posted by cathy at February 23, 2006 12:57 AM

Cathy,

Font looks good (really can't appreciate the difference...I take the blame!)...as long its SUBSTANCE OVER FORM...no worries at all. I love Tom's application of KAIZEN to his slides.

Posted by K.Sriram at February 23, 2006 5:55 AM

Bravo Jeffery – such a shame to see such great content packaged so horrifically. I understand the intent Tom, but to be such a proponent of good design and not to practice it . . . well perhaps you could recruit your 8 year old niece as art director.

Posted by carbonboy at February 23, 2006 9:35 AM

Here's a funny one: I don't know whether I'm seeing "the font" or some generic font because I don't have the right font installed.

On the other hand, I'm really looking for the content (which is great).

It I see it live, I can be dazzled by the presentation and the presenter as if it were the first time!

Posted by Jeff at February 23, 2006 2:09 PM

Content, content, content. As for me? I go to school on Tom's slides - taking them apart to see how he made them, including the jarring (techni)colors. On my iBook, "Marker" is the closest font. For what I use them for - learning, passing them on to others - the default font that kicks in works fine. Technicolor rules - and rules out loud!

Posted by Earl at February 23, 2006 2:42 PM

Just for accuracy's sake, I'd like to nitpick a little.

The Australian airline QANTAS is actually an acronym, and contains no "U".

I believe it stands for Queensland and Nothern Territory Aerial Services.

Good to see the "sit up and pay attention" colour scheme is still in place.

Posted by CK at February 23, 2006 8:10 PM

yawn

Posted by funkyblakgal at February 24, 2006 8:57 AM